Nonwoven sheets of nanofibers have a high surface area and porosity, alleviating problems associated with diffusive mass transfer in packed-bed resins because they allow for convective mass transfer. Cellulose acetate was electrospun in a controlled environment and varying chemical methods were attempted to modify the surface. Cellulose nanofibers modified with diethylaminoethyl groups were used as a weak anion exchanger. Weak cation exchangers with carboxylmethyl groups were derivatized using (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxy radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation. Equilibrium binding studies with model proteins show that each type of nanofiber adsorber achieved a range of capacities depending on the protocol used. Nanofiber adsorbers show a capacity up to three times that of current ion exchange membrane adsorbers and over 50% of that of commercial packed-bed resins. Building on the advantages of convective mass transfer, we aim to exploit the properties of nanofibers and reveal more benefits of this new adsorber material.

Derivatization of electrospun cellulose nanofiber adsorbers for bioseparation

245th National Meeting (2013)

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